“So often, tragedy strikes at this time of year, and the holidays make it that much more difficult because our communities should be celebrating, not mourning,” fire department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.

Firefighters said unattended candles, overloaded outlets and power strips “and many of the holiday traditions we all hold dear” often cause fires.

Aliza Azan was found dead on the second floor of the single-family home near the children who perished: 11-year-old Moshe, 7-year-old Yitzchak and 3-year-old Henrietta. The children’s father and two teenagers were hospitalized in critical condition.

In all, nine people were in the house: the couple, their six children and a cousin. The other two people made it out alive.

The fire was reported around 2:30 a.m. in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay neighborhood.

A longtime family friend and neighbor, Morris Levy, said the family had recently moved into the house.

Nigro said the children’s father saved two of his older children from the fire and was seriously burned trying to get back inside the burning house.

“We believe that he acted very courageously and tried desperately,” Nigro said, according to the New York Post. “Hopefully it didn’t cost his life also, but it may.”

Aliza, known locally as Luza, was the daughter of Rabbi Albert Hamra, a leader of the Syrian community in Israel, according to the Post.

Firefighters arrived within 2 1/2 minutes of the first 911 call, but Nigro said the flames were already “consuming” all three floors of the building. He said that firefighters were met with flames at the front door but “pushed in very aggressively” because they knew people were inside.

Tragedy in Flatbush …… A Facebook photo posted By their father Yossi in 2015 , shows the Azan Family on their way to…

Mayor Bill de Blasio urged people to be cautious with decorations, electric lights, candles and space heaters during the winter months and the holidays.

“As a parent, it’s impossible for me to imagine what this family is going through right now,” said de Blasio.

A number of Hebrew media reports said members of the family were Israeli nationals, but the Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of any of them being Israeli citizens.

In March 2015, three girls and four boys ages 5 to 16 from the Sassoon family died and their mother and another child were critically injured when a fire sparked by a malfunctioning Sabbath hotplate engulfed their home in Flatbush.

The Azans and Sassoons knew each other, according to Yeshiva World news, some of their children having studied together at the Ateret Torah Yeshiva.

By signing up, you agree to our
terms
You hereby accept The Times of Israel Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and you agree to receive the latest news & offers from The Times of Israel and its partners or ad sponsors.

We use cookies and other technologies to recognize your repeat visits and preferences, as well as to measure campaigns and analyze traffic. To learn more about cookies, including how to disable them, view our Privacy Policy. By clicking "I Accept" or by using our site, you consent to the use of cookies unless you have disabled themI Accept